Paper fastener



O 952 J. D. CAYABYAB 2,515,222

PAPER FA/STENER Filed May 8, 1947 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1952 J. D. cAYABYAB PAPER FASTENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 8, 1947 Jaime 17. ayabyab ATTOR NEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1952 PAPER FASTENER Jaime D. Cayabyab, Binalonan, Pangasinan, Philippines Application May 8, 1947, Serial No. 746,727

3 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in paper fastening devices.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a paper fastener that is easily adjustable to accommodate various sizes of paper having standard punchings.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character that includes upstanding prongs which extend through the punchings in the paper and wherein the construction is unique in that prongs of any desired capacity may be interchangeably used.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the above .mentioned character that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient and eflicacious in the performance of its duties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my paper fastener and illustrating the slidable cover thereof in a closed and locked position holding several sheets of paper or the like together,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the cover in the open position,

Figure 3 is a broken perspective view of the sliding cover embodying a part of my invention,

Figure 4 is a broken perspective view of the compressor strip embodying a part of my invention,

Figure 5 is a broken perspective View of the base plate and the removable prongs associated therewith,

Figure dis a fragmentary perspective view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 6a is a transverse sectional view taken on line (ta-6a of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line '!-1 of Figure l,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view interlock to prevent complete removal of the cover when the same is moved to the open posi- 1 'tion illustrated in Figure 2,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 but showing the cover in the open position,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the'base, plate and the removable prongs used in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention as illustrated in Figure 12, the sliding cover being here illustrated as being both slidably and hingedly associated with the compressor strip and the cover being here illustrated as in the unlocked and open position,

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a modified construction of the base and detachable prongs illustrated in Figure 14, 1

Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating still another modification of the base plate and upstanding prongs,

Figure 18 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line l'8--l 8 of Figure 12,

Figure 19 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line I9|9 of Figure 1'7,

Figure 20 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating yet another modification of the base and upstanding prongs, and

Figure 21 is a fragmentary longitudinal vartical sectional view taken on the line 2l--2l of Figure 20.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for adjustablerelative thereto to accommodate vari- I ous sizes of paper having standard punchings.

The base plate is arranged below the stack of H paper 29 and the upstanding prongs or tongues 28 project through the openings in the paper and through the transverse slots 30" provided in the compressor strip 26 mounted on top of the stack of paper 29 and directly above the base plate.

The portion of the prongs 28 projecting above the compressor strip are folded in the direction of each other and against the top surface of the compressor strip in the manner bestillustrated in Figure 2, and the cover 27 is slidably moved from the open position illustrated in Figure 2 to the closed position illustrated in Figure l to hold ings, the bases of the prongs are disposed at. right.

angles thereto and are substantially wider'than' the. prongs. The prongs are slidably applied .to the base through the open ends thereof and the;

portions of the base projecting laterally. .of .the

same securely but detachably associated therewith. The prongs are. of. awidth. slightly less than the distance between the terminal edges of the. overhanging portions 38 land. 31 of thebase and they project vertically therefrom and through the punchings in'thepaper 29.: .As is. wellknown, paper of various sizesliis provided with various standard punchings and-I have therefore provided the-base with lugsorstops 35. which locate the tongues in.a position to-fit the various stand. ard punchings. .In the:interest of strength. and

economy of construction, I have here illustrated the stops. as comprisingtabs formed integrally on the.:terminal. edges of therefiexed portions 39 and-,3] rofuthelbase. It .isto be notedthatthe tabs 35.-are. integral on the inturned edges and 3!, andarebent downwardly and. then inwardly,

' Figuresfiyfi and 6a. The inner ends ofthe-tabs.

form a clearance 35b with-the v.ba-seeplate. Also, the-prong base is provided with. turned up ends '34b slidably engaged inthe. guideways 32 and 33, the tabs 35 being separated f-rom'eaoh other by a clearance 35a. On the 'prong-sbase is an integral tongue-or tab 13%.. This projectionis arranged attthe opposite end ofthe-base-remotefrorn the prong and isfolded over thetabs- 35 when the connection of the prong base 234 has been madetherewith in order to retain the prong against displacement relative to thebase Y plate 25. Also, the prong 28 when in its bent upposi tion. will engage the opposite-ends 10f the-tabs.

To removethe prom; base the tab Maris merely unfolded and then the base can be slid out from 4 under the tabs orstops 35." By having the tabs 35- bent downwardly, as well aye-"inwardly, there is provided a recess oventhe endsof the tabs-intowhich thetab 3M can bedisposed;

Asu'hereinabove described. the prongs; project through the punchings -inv the paper-.andthe -por-- tionsi' extending above =thepaper are received within the slots 36? formed in thecompressor strip 26. The front and rearemarginal: edges of the compressor strip 26 -are provided. with" integraLhollow'arcuately refie'xed' portions Miami 3'! which=form guideways forithe sliding'cover 27.. Thereflexed portions Strand 37 are co-extensive with thet lengthi'of "the; platetand the terminaledges of these portions-are spaced from the upper surface of the plate to accommodate the cover-as illustrated in Figure 7." 'of'the plate 26 the renexed portions are formed with inturned lips 39 Iand'dEl -respectively, which lips form abutments adapted to prevent the cover from-being entirely removed fromthe compressor strip.

However, at the end .33

'Thecover gl is formed with an archedamedial prongs engage under the overhanging marginah edges 39 and 3! of the base to normally hold the portion 4! to accommodate the folded portions of the prongs 28 and the front and rear marginal edges thereof are rolled upwardly and back upon themselves to provide guides and these guides are of a size adapted to be snugly but slidably received within the guideways 42 and 43 provided by the arcuately reflexed front and rear marginal edges of the compressor strip 26. As best illustrated' in Figure 3 the terminal'edges Miand 45 of the cover 27 are spaced substantially above the top surface of the cover for substantially their entire length whereby to extend above the inturnedlips 39 and 48 formed at the end 38 of the compressor strip as best illustrated in Figure 9.

However, the end-460i the cover 21, which is the of thecover in a manner to extend transversely of and below the inturned .lips.39 and illof. the compressor strip:asbestillustrated in Figure. ll of the drawings. Attention is againdirected to the fact that. the integral. .lips. 39 and Afi-ofthe. compressor, strip and thelips and. 48- of the. cover are disposed at oppo'sitelends thereof and it is noted at this point that the. respective lips. extend for only a short distance along the length of the compressor. strip and cover. I

When. the cover 2'L is applied ,toethecome. pressor strip 26Ifthe end .49 thereof. is. positioned. at the end star. the compressor strip 26. andthe reversely' curved marginaledges 44 and. there.- of are fitted withi'nethe. guideways lz and 43 of the, compressonstrip. 26 vThecover. 21 is.telescoped within the compressor strip...26. untiL-the 1 endd l9 thereof is movedtoa. positionrcoincident with the. vend...1-i82of.thecompressor strip 26. and in view .of the..fact thatvthe. cover and com-.- pressor. strip. are coeextensivev the, cover will, at

' this. .time, entirely close the ;compressor strip.

After..the .cover hasi-been: movedto this position the flap 5Lformed integrallyat the end 50 of the compressor'strip is .ben-tupwa-rdly and as clearly illustrated in. Figurei i the outer edge of this flap-is shapedtocoincide with the upper profile of .the compressorhstripfin.a manner wherebyit'will close the 'end of the guideways 42* and.43"'andalso the end of .the ,cover. The. opposite end of the compressor strip is also formed with an. upstanding flange. 52 which closeszthe corresponding end oith'e coverbut...

does not prevent sliding movement of the.co.v.er..-. across the. flange. If it is now desired to move the cover to the open position illustrated in Fig;- ure 2 it is moved by'finger'pressure in the direction of the flange 52 By reason of the fact'that the terminal edges A l and- 350f the cover te'rminate substantiallyabove the upper surface thereof and above the inturned lips Hand '40- of the compressor strip sliding-movement of the cover may be easily effected. Thecover may be slidably actuated inthis manner until the inner edges of the downwardly extending lips 41 and 48- thereof abuttingly engage the inturned lips 39 and ii) of the compressor strip, as bestillustrated "in s Figure 11; at which time the cover will" be-secure1yheld against further sliding movement in the direction of the arrowin'Fig ure As illustrateddn Figure 2, however;..

closed by upstanding flanges 55.

.bases of the endmost flanges are fitted into the the cover when in this position will permit the prongs 28 to be raised whereby to permit the compressor strip and cover, as a unit, to be moved so that a portion of the paper 29 may be removed or additional sheets thereof may be placed thereon. When the compressor strip is replaced and the prongs are again moved to the folded position the cover may be reversely shifted to bring the end 46 thereof into abutting engagement with the flap 5| of the compressor strip whereby to hold the prongs in the folded position and to present a neat and attractive appearance.

Attention is now directed to Figures 12, 13 and 14 which illustrate a modification of the above described form of the invention. This form of the invention is of a size adapted to accommodate the larger sizes of paper. The main differences reside in the manner in which the base plate is formed, the compressor strip and cover being formed and associated in the manner hereinabove described. Obviously, when the device is to be used in association with larger sizes of paper it will be necessary that the base be substantially longer in order that it may extend for substantially the entire length of the paper. The refiexed marginal edges and 3| of the base 25 are provided with recesses 55 which permit the intermediate prongs 28 to be fitted to the base. The base plate is provided with stops in the manner hereinabove described to properly locate the prongs and the endmost prongs are inserted through the open ends of the base plate and the intermediate prongs are inserted" through the recesses 55. As best illustrated in- Figure 14, the prongs are arranged in longitudinally spaced pairs and the stops locate the prongs of each pair to properly receive the punchings of the paper. by providing a longer base It is that the paper is compressed for substantially its entire length whereby to prevent the same from bucklin and tearing at the unsupported portion thereof between the fasteners if two of the relatively short fasteners illustrated in Figures 1 through 11 were used.

If the device is to be used in connection with papernot provided with standard punchings a base constructed in the manner illustrated in Figure 16 may be advantageously used. In this form of the invention the endmost prongs 28 are located by stops 35 and the intermediate prongs are freely slidable in the guideways 32 and 33 for substantially the entire distance between the endmost prongs. The reflexed marginal edges 30 and 3i of the base are provided with confronting recesses 55 which accommodate the bases of the intermediate prongs and permit the same to be inserted within the guideways. The intermediate prongs may then be adjusted relative to a respective one of the endmost prongs and may thus be spaced a distance therefrom best suited to the exigency of the particular situation.

In Figures 17 and 19 I have illustrated a further modification of the base 25 which provides The advantage realized a construction wherein the ends of the base are p In practice, the

the direction of the respective ends of the base.

and are normally positioned in abutting engagemerit with'theupstanding flanges 56. The intermediate prongs may be fitted into the guideways through the recesses 55 and spaced anyse-' lected distance from a respective one of the end prongs. r

In Figures 20 and 21 I have illustrated a further modification of the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 17 and 19. In thisform of the invention the endmost prongs 28 are located in substantially spaced relation from the end of this purpose, I have provided the refiexed front portion 36 of the compressor strip with a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 51. The refiexed front marginal edge of the cover is similarly provided with recesses 58. When the cover;

is disposed in the closed position illustrated in Figure 12 the portions of the front reflexed marginal edge of the cover will be fitted within the guideway 42 provided by the refiexed front marginal edge of the compressor strip. If, however.

the cover is shifted a slight distance toward the open position the portion of the refiexed front marginal edge of the cover extending between the recesses 58 will move into register with the recesses 51 in the refiexed front marginal edge of the compressor strip. The recesses 51 are uniquely formed to properly accommodate the mentioned portion of the cover and to permit the same to be lifted vertically whereby to permit the cover to be swung upwardly to the open position illustrated in the drawing. Attention is directed to the fact that the refiexed rear marginal edge of the cover is provided with a substantially centrally located recess 59 which determines the extent to which the cover may be slidably moved relative to the compressor strip. The reflexed rear marginal edge of the compressor strip is crimped as at 60, which crimped portion is normally disposed in proximity to the end 6| of the recess 59 when the cover is in the closed position. The cover may therefore be shifted longitudinally of the compressor strip until the end 62 of the recess engages the crimped portion 60 at which time further shifting of the cover is prevented. The crimped portion of the compressor strip therefore prevents the cover from being entirely removed from the compressor strip and holds the same adjustably but fixedly associated with each other. It is to be realized, however, that in any event the distance which the cover is permitted to be moved relative to the compressor strip is suflicient to permit the reflexed front marginal edge of the cover to be moved into register with the recesses 51 in the reflexed front marginal edge of the compressor strip.

I have found that if the cover is formed with a knurled portion 63 the sliding of the cover is substantially expedited. The knurled portion properly locates the finger of the operator free from contact with the stationary edges of the compressor strip and prevents the finger from slipping when lateral pressure is exerted against the cover.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and ;desori bed;? re;to bertaken as preferred examples of the same and that-various changes in the size, shaperand are rangement" of parts may be "resorted to'without departing from the spirit of my invention nor thescope of the subjoined claims Having thus described my inventiom-I claim:

1. In a paper fastener, the combinationwhich comprises an elongated base strip having inturned-longitudinally disposed flanges with spaced lugs'extended from the inneredges-of the flanges and :with the flanges positioned on the longitudinally positioned edges ofthe. strip, and vertically disposed tongues having horizontally disposed' bases with. extendedv flanges at. the .edges of (the bases and said flanges being ofisetupwa-rdly for frictional engagement with the flanges-of the base strip. I

2.. Ina paper fastener, the combination which comprises an elongated base stripv having inturnedlongitudinaliy disposed flanges with spaced lugsextended from the .inneredges of theflanges and with-the flanges positioned on the longitudinaliy positioned edges of the strip,.vertioa11y disposed tongues having horizontally disposed bases with extended flanges .at the edges of the, bases andv said flanges; being offset upwardly for fric-- tional engagement Withlthe flanges of theoba sestripiand.horizontally disposed tongues on the. edges of .the bases extended over the logs of the fiangesofl the basestrip for securing the said verticallydisposed tonguesin. position on the said base-strip.

3.-.In-a paper fastener, the combination which comprises an elongated base strip having in,-

turnedlongitudinally disposed flanges with spaced lugs extendedfrom theinner edges of the flanges and with; the flanges, positioned on the longitudinally positioned edges-of the strip, vertically disposedtongues havinghorizontally disposed bases with extended flanges; at the edges-of the bases and said flanges being-offset upwardly for frictionalengagement with the flanges of the base strip, and. horizontally disposed tongues on the;

edges of'the bases extended over the lugs ofthe flange s'of the base strip for securing the saidvertically disposed tongues in position on the.

said base strip, said fastener :adapted for. use with a compression strip having rolled flanges at the edges and having transversely disposed slots therein with the'slots positioned to receive I the vertically disposed tongues of the s'aidbases, a cover strip also having rolled flanges onthe edges positioned to slide into and frictionally engagethe flanges of thesaid compression strip,

and extensions, providing stops at the ends of the said compressionstrip for limiting longitudi-i nal travel of the parts. t

' JAIME'D. CAYABYAB.

REFERENCES C TED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Crosby June 3, 19,4; 

